Today’s Gospel presents us the consequence of opposing law and charity. There is the Pharisee’s interpretation, teaching that merely fulfilling the law is enough to be considered righteous. On the other hand, there are statements that insinuate that charity makes law unnecessary, such as “Jesus broke the rules for the sake of love.” This may suggest that violation of just law is acceptable if our intentions are good. Both extremes miss the truth, that is, the laws given are born out of love to direct us to love.
St. Thomas Aquinas said, “Law is an ordinance of reason for the common good, given by one who has care of the community.” (STh, I, 90, 4) Good and just laws are designed to lead us to good and protect us from evil. We may think of the constitution or even traffic regulations as examples, yet we can go beyond what is written in books. There is also the natural law given to us by God, by which we know what is to be done and what is to be avoided. And this is in participation of eternal law, which is God himself. (Social Doctrine, 140)
A Necessity
Laws are necessary, especially when we reflect on our human condition. In the beginning, Adam and Eve lived in what we call the state of original justice. Then, they lived in perfect harmony with God, with themselves and with all creations. They also possessed rightly ordered desires. They naturally loved what was good, and their whole being was ordered toward God.
When Adam and Eve disobeyed, sin entered the world. It darkened the intellect, weakened the will, and introduced disorder into the human heart. From then on, our natural inclination toward the good became wounded. We no longer see clearly what is right, nor love what is truly good as we should. Our separation from God blinded us so that we couldn’t find our way back to Him.
Directions
To direct us towards Himself, God gave us His commandments to teach what is good and what are the means to attain it. The law, therefore, is not a burden but a gift of divine love and is also an expression of his divine love. They teach us what is good and direct us toward Heaven (CCC 2055). When we obey, we are not submitting to a cold rulebook but responding to a Father’s love. Just as we obey just human laws for the common good, so in keeping God’s commandments, we share in His eternal purpose—to love Him above all things. St. Paul reminds us: “Love is the fulfilment of the law” (Rom 13:10; cf. CCC 1824). This can also help us understand that, as following the law is sharing in the intention of the lawgiver, then exceptions can be made in a particular case if charity demands it or if it contradicts the law’s purpose.
At times — or perhaps many times –we find it difficult to obey the laws of God. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mt 26:41). That is why God did not leave us with the law alone; He gave us grace through Jesus Christ.
Grace
St. Augustine puts it beautifully: “The law was therefore given, in order that grace might be sought; grace was given, in order that the law might be fulfilled.” (De Spiritu et Littera, 34). While the law shows us the way, grace gives us the strength to walk in it. As grace is given through Jesus Christ, so also the grace to obedience is also found through Him, He who was ‘obedient until death, even death on a cross’.
Law becomes a mere external demand if it is separated from Jesus. Law becomes mere duty, or worse, tool of pride, if it is carried out without charity. Look at the Pharisees in today’s Gospel. By making false oppositions between law and love, they corrupted the meaning of Sabbath rest. They turned it into an occasion of hate and sin. We also must avoid discouraging obedience under the pretext of compassion or rejecting God’s commandments in the name of love. This happens when we think love is mere kindness or emotional acceptance, and not that it desires the good of others. It is not true love if we think exceptions from love is to excuse what is sinful or redefine what is true.
Ardent Charity
May we learn how to unite obedience in love in the Blessed Virgin Mary. She who teaches us how to love God by joyfully accepting His will. Through her intercession, may we learn that true freedom and peace are found not in rejecting God’s law, but in living it with a heart ablaze with ardent charity.
